Car truck



J. A. SHAFER Dec. 1, 1936.

CAR TRUCK 4 Sheets-Sheet l FiledDec. 1'7, 1931 m r M m h J W w Q g y m wA 4- K Dc. 1, 1936. J. A. SHAFER GAR TRUCK Filed Dec. 17, "1931 4SheetsSheet 2 J. A. SHAF'ER Dec. 1, 1936.

CAR TRUCK Filed Dec. l7,' 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 R IHH HH u avwemtoz I IJames fli fldfer Dec. 1, 1936. j, HAFER 2,062,682

' CAR TRUCK Filed Dec. 17, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mwmzzy zs BY M 7Patented Dec. 1, 1935 CAR TRUCK Application December 17, 1931, SerialNo. 581,550

16 Claims.

My invention relates to trucks for railway cars, and more particularlyto the type of truck described in my application filed June 6, 1930,Serial No. 459,480, issued September 11, 1934 as Patent No 1,973,664.This type of truck employs a plurality of sets of coil springs for thepurpose of supporting the bolster, which in turn supports the car. Thesesprings, after a certain amount of use, are apt to acquire a permanentset, or in other words, the expansive power of such springs weakenssomewhat, and the bolster is thereby allowed to ride lower in the truck.This, of course, lowers the entire car frame and coupling mechanism,which latter is thereby at times rendered diificult of manipulation.Under such circumstances it is desirable to shim the springs in order toovercome the efiect described. The customary periodic turning down ofthe truck wheels to restore wheel contours also has the effect oflowering the coupler height, with the result that shimming of the trucksprings is advisable.

It is the object of the present invention to provide improved means,both simple and efficient, for shimming the springs of trucks of thetype disclosed in my earlier application referred to above, and truckssimilar thereto. Another object of my invention is to provide meanswhereby the materials for this operation may be carried on each truckand thereby rendered available at all times. A further object of myinvention is to provide means whereby a person engaged in performing theshimming operation may be informed, when such is the case, that thetruck has been shimmed as far as is practicable, and that further shimsmay not be inserted. Another object of my invention is to provide meansfor compensating for the wear which occurs between the bolster and thewalls of the bolster opening in the side frame during service. Otherobjects and advantages of my invention will appear from the descriptionwhich follows.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectionthrough the central portion of a side frame of the type disclosed in myearlier application described above; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of alike portion of the side frame, on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is avertical section similar to Fig. l, but illustrating another feature ofmy invention; Fig. 4 is a. horizontal section along line t l of Fig. 3,with the bolster in plan; Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectionthrough one end of the bolster, spring caps, and associated parts,illustrating a modification of my invention; Fig. 6 is a plan view ofthe parts illustrated in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontalsection through a side frame and the dowels ta. of a bolster,illustrating a modified form of my invention; Fig. 8 is a fragmentaryvertical section on line 88 of Fig. 7.

Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral I designates the centralportion of aside frame, provided with the usual opening id to admit the end of thebolster 2. It will of course be understood that the opposite end of thebolster extends into a similar side frame, but for the purposes of thepresent invention it sufiices to consider but one side frame of the cartruck and the associated end portion of the bolster. A spring seat 3forms the bottom of the bolster opening, and is provided with openings 4through which the cylindrical lugs or dowels 4a of the bolster projectinto the interior of the tension portion 5 of the side frame, which isof box-section and merges with the side frame tension members 5a. Coilsprings 6 are supported upon the discs to which are positioned in theseats 62; formed in the lower web or shelf 1 of the tension member 5.Spring caps 8 are seated upon the upper ends of springs 6, and areprovided with circular openings 9 centrally located, through which theplugs 9a project downwardly into the interior of the coil springs 6.Bosses ill project upwardly from the plugs to into the interior of thelugs ta.

A set of two coil springs l I is arranged in tandem fashion within thebolster 2, along the longitudinal axis of the latter, or in other wordstransversely of the side frame. Said springs II rest upon discs Ila,which, in turn, ordinarily rest upon the spring seat 3. The bolster iscarried by springs BI and springs t, the lugs to, ordinarily restingupon spring caps 8. The side frame and bolster construction so fardescribed is shown in my application above referred to. In carrying outthe present invention, shims iii are interposed between the spring caps8 and the dowels la, while shims I3 are shown between the spring seat 3and the discs IIa. Shims 92 are formed of metal discs of suitablethickness, provided with central openings through which the bosses II)of the plugs 9a project. The shims it are shown of the same thickness asshims 82, but are of a shape best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4. Thisshape is necessitated by presence of the dowels la, the shims I3 beingrecessed, as at M, to accommodate the dowels, and being madesufficiently narrow to be admissible in the space between the dowels.The number and thickness of the shims l2, I 3 may of course be varied,the number and thicknesses shown being merely illustrative.

Cal

If desired, a bolt I! may be inserted in a suitable opening in the wall18 of column l9, for the purpose of providing an indication of the limitto which the shimming operation may be carried. The head lla of the boltll is flattened on the lower side, in a horizontal plane with thelowermost element of the shank of the bolt. In performing the shimmingoperation, sufiicient shims may be inserted so that, when the bolster islowered, the bolt ll may just be inserted in its opening. If the bolt I?cannot be inserted, the shimming operation has been carried to excess,and a sufiicient number of shims must be removed to allow the bolt I! togo into place.

When a car truck is initially placed in service no shims are present ornecessary. However, as the use of the truck continues, the springsgradually lose a certain amount of their strength and resiliency, with aconsequent lowering of the car frame. Also, after a certain length oftime in service, the truck wheels will have to be turned down, thusaffecting the height of the car frame.

.ese effects must be compensated by shimming. To accomplish thisoperation in accordance with my invention, the bolster is first raisedas high as possible in the bolster openings by means of jacks, the boltll being at this time removed from the side frame. When the bolster hasbeen so raised, the dowels ia will be entirely clear of the bosses l0and the openings Q, and the desired number of shims l2 may be droppedover the bosses onto the tops of the springs caps 8. The shims iii areinserted by raising the springs H and discs Ha, the compression havingbeen removed from said springs, and simply inserting the shims betweenthe discs Ha and the spring seat 3. The bolster is then lowered tocomplete the operation. When the springs I! and discs I la are fastenedto the bolster, as shown in my pending application above referred to,said springs and discs are automatically raised as the bolster is jackedup, whereupon the insertion of the shims I3 is facilitated.

As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, a further feature of my invention isthe provision of means for shimming the inner sides of the column I 9forming the bolster opening la to compensate for wear resulting fromfriction between the bolster 2 and the column [9. In carrying out thisphase of the invention, shims 2B are interposed between the columns l9and the sides 20, of the bolster 2. The shims 20 are of a verticaldimension corresponding to the height of the bolster opening, and are ofa cross-section corresponding in shape to rat of the respective columnsl9. The shims 28 maybe of any suitable thickness of material, sufficientto compensate for such a degree of wear as serves to make shimmingdesirable.

To insert the shims 20 into position, it is necessary to effect arelative lateral movement between the side frame I and the bolster 2, soas to withdraw the latter from the bolster opening la. This is done byraising the bolster by means of jacks, after which the side frame isremoved from the car truck. The shims 29 are then put in place adjacentthe columns l9 and the side frame replaced in position, the bolsterbeing then lowered into place. It is obvious that no special means needbe provided for maintaining the shims 223 in place, since they areeffectively retained in position by engagement with the bolster 2. Theshimming operation just described may of course be performed at the sametime and as a part of the spring shimming operation. However, in mostcases the occasions for the two operations will not coincide in time,and for that reason the operations are separately described.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a modification of my invention, in which meansare provided for carrying on the bolster a supply of shims of bothof thenecessary types for shimming the springs. The bolster 2 of Fig. 5differs from that of Fig. l in that it possesses the openings M throughwhich the rods l5 project downwardly into the dowels 5a. The latter arepartially closed at the bottom, the openings 4b, however permitting thepassage of the bosses Hi. The rods l5 are reduced, at the lower end, asat IE, to the diameter of the bosses A supply of shims l2 and F3 arecarried. on top of the bolster 2, the shims l2 being so placed thattheir central openings embrace the upper ends of rods 55. Shims 13 aredisposed in interlocking relation to shims l2, as is shown in Fig.

6. So: long as rods 85 continue to project above the top of bolster 2,therefore, the shims l2 and 13 are prevented from moving out of place.When it is desired to perform the shimming operation, the bolster israised by jacks as already described. When this is done, the rods l5,being free to move in the bolster, will move downwardly with respectthereto until the reduced portions l6 have entered the openings 6b asfar as possible. By this'movement the upper ends of rods l5 will bewithdrawn from the shims l2, and the latter, as well as shims l3, may beslid off of the bolster top. The shimming operation is then performed asalready set forth.

By the use of this feature of my invention it will be possible toperform the shimming operation, if necessary, while the car is at apoint distant from the yards or shops where such operations are usuallyperformed.

In the modified form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8,provision is made for compensating for wear between the dowels 4a of thebolster 2 and the sides of the openings 4 in the spring seat 3, throughwhich they project. Referring to Fig. 7, it will be seen that theopenings A are not circular, but that, throughout a portion of theirperiphery, they are provided with stepped recesses 38. Arcu-ate wearmembers SI, of L-shaped cross-section, are adapted to fit into therecesses 30 and to take the wear resulting from frictional contact withthe dowels 4a. The inner bolster spring ll shown in dotted outline inFig. 7 overlies the members 3i and holds them in position.

The chief wear will occur at the sides of each dowel opening 4 which isnearest the point of contact between car and bolster, the point fromwhich stresses are transmitted through the bolster. The modifiedconstruction, therefore, is employed only throughout those portions ofthe walls of the openings 4.

When sumcient wear has occurred between any dowel 6a and its cooperatingwear member 3| to necessitate compensation, a new member 3! may befitted into the recess 30, the new wear member 3i being a trifle widerthan the preceding one when new, in order to compensate for the wearwhich the dowel ea has undergone.

The terms employed in the foregoing specifications are terms ofdescription and not of limitation, and I do not wish to be limited tothe particular construction disclosed, since various modifications ofthe same may be made within the scope of the present invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a truck for railway cars, the combination of a side frame having abolster opening, a bolster extending into said bolster opening andsupported therein by springs, shim members interposed between certain ofsaid springs and said bolster, and shim members interposed betweenothers of said springs and said side frame, for the purpose ofmaintaining the proper bolster height said shim members being soconstructed and arranged that they are positively retained in correctposition by portions of said bolster and side frame.

2. In a truck for railway cars, the combination of a side frame having abolster opening, said side frame being substantially of box-sectionbeneath said bolster opening, a bolster extending into said bolsteropenings, dowels projecting downwardly from said bolster, springspositioned within said box-section portion of said side frame, andadapted to support said bolster, a spring cap upon each said spring,said spring caps being adapted ordinarily to engage said downwardlyprojecting dowels on said bolster, and one or more shim membersinterposed between each said spring cap and its co-operating dowel forthe purpose of compensating for causes tending to diminish the bolsterheight and means associated with said spring caps for retaining saidshims in position.

3. In a car truck the combination of a side frame and bolster eachhaving upper and lower spring seating portions, a plurality of springspositioned between said seating portions on said side frame and bolster,certain of said springs being positioned entirely above others of saidsprings, shims between the lower springs and the lower spring seatingportion of the bolster, other shims between the upper springs and theupper spring seating portion of the side frame .and retained in place byengagement with said bolster, and means associated with said lowerspring seating portion of the bolster to hold the shims in position.

4. In a truck for railway cars, the combination of a side frame providedwith a bolster opening having a spring seat at the bottom thereof, thesaid frame being substantially of box-section beneath the bolsteropening, spring bearing elements positioned on said spring seat, abolster extending into said bolster opening, dowels projectingdownwardly from said bolster, springs positioned within said bolster andadapted ordinarily to seat on said bearing elements, springs positionedwithin said box-section portion of said side frame, spring caps restingupon said latter springs and adapted ordinarily to engage saiddownwardly projecting dowels on said bolster, one or more shim membersinterposed between said bearing elements and said spring seat and heldin place by partially surrounding said dowels, one or more shim membersinterposed between said spring caps and said dowels on said bolster andmeans associated with said spring caps for retaining said latter shimsin position.

5. In a truck for railway cars, the combination of a side frame having abolster opening, a bolster extending into said bolster opening andsupported therein by springs, a plurality of shim members, and. meansassociated with said bolster for carrying said shim members, saidcarrying means being adapted to prevent the removal of said shim membersexcept when said bolster has been raised relative to said carrying meansas in performing the shimming operation.

6. In a truck for railway cars, the combination of a side frame having abolster opening, a bolster extending into said bolster opening andsupported therein by springs, said bolster having openings in the topthereof, and rods positioned within said bolster and projecting throughsaid openings in the top' thereof, said rods being likewise supported bysaid springs, and being capable of in dependent vertical movement withrespect to said bolster, whereby when said bolster is raised by externalmeans said rods will continue to rest upon said springs.

7. In trucks for railway cars, the combination of a side frame having abolster opening, a bolster extending into said bolster opening andsupported therein by springs, said bolster having openings in the topthereof, and rods positioned within said bolster and projecting throughsaid openings formed in the top thereof, said rods being likewisesupported by said springs, and being capable of independent verticalmovement with respect to said bolster, whereby when said bolster israised by external means said rods will continue to rest upon saidsprings until the bolster has been raised a predetermined distance.

8. In a truck for railway cars, the combination .11

of a side frame having a bolster opening, a bolster extending into saidbolster opening, said bolster being supported in position by springs,means for shimming said springs to compensate for causes tending todiminish the bolster height,

and removable means extending into the bolster opening above saidbolster for providing an indication when said shimming operation hasbeen carried to the practicable limit.

9. In a truck for railway cars, the combination of a side frame having abolster opening, a bolster extending into said bolster opening andsupported therein by springs, means tying said bolster and side frametogether, means associated with said bolster and said side frame forcompensating for causes tending to diminish the bolster height, andshimming means associated with said bolster and said side frame forcompensating for wear occurring therebetween, the last mentioned meansbeing held in position by said side frame and said bolster.

10. In a truck for railway cars, the combination of a side frame havinga bolster opening, a bolster extending into said bolster opening, meansfor holding said bolster and side frame in assembled position and meansassociated with and held in position by said bolster and said side framefor compensating for wear occurring therebetween.

11. In a truck for railway cars, the combination of a side frame havinga bolster opening, a bolster extending into said bolster opening, saidside frame and bolster interfitting with each other to retain the samein assembled position and shim members interposed between said bolsterand the walls of said bolster opening for compensating for wearoccurring therebetween, said shim members being held in position by saidwalls and said bolster.

12. In a truck for railway cars, the combination of a side frame havinga bolster opening formed by spaced columns, a bolster extending intosaid bolster opening, said columns having portions extending intooverlapping relation to an end of said bolster, and shim membersinterposed between said bolster and the walls of said bolster opening,including said extending portions, for compensating for weartherebetween, said shim members being held in position by said walls andsaid bolsters and being confined ver- 7 tically by horizontal portionsof the side frame defining the bolster openings.

13. In a truck for railway cars, the combination of a side frame havinga bolster opening, a spring seat beneath said bolster opening, saidspring seat having openings therein, a bolster extending into saidbolster opening and supported by springs, said bolster having dowelsprojecting through said openings in said spring seat, means forcompensating for causes tending to diminish the bolster height, andmeans for compensating for wear between said bolster and said sideframe, said wear-compensating means including means for compensating forwear between said bolster and the walls of said bolster opening andmeans for compensating for wear between said dowels and the walls ofsaid openings in said spring seat.

14. In a truck for railway cars, the combination of a side frame havingcolumns defining a bolster opening, each of said columns comprising aportion extending transversely of the side frame, and a portionextending longitudinally thereof into overlapping relation to an end ofthe bolster, a bolster extending into said bolster opening, and shimmembers interposed between said bolster and said columns, each of saidshim members comprising a portion extending parallel to the transverseportion of the corresponding column and further comprising a portionextending into overlapping relation to said bolster end and parallel tothe longitudinally extending portion of said column and being confinedvertically by horizontal portions of the side frame defining the bolsteropenings.

15. In a truck for railway cars, a side frame having columns defining abolster opening, each of said columns having a portion extendingtransversely of the side frame, and a portion extending longitudinallythereof into overlapping relation to an end of the bolster, a bolsterextending into said bolster opening, and'shimming members interposedbetween said transversely extending portions of the respective columnsand the adjacent side walls of the bolster and overlapping said bolsterend, said shim members being held in position by said bolster side wallsand said transversely extending column portions and being confinedvertically by horizontal portions of the side frame defining the bolsteropenings.

16. In a truck for railway cars, the combination of a side frame havinga bolster opening, a bolster extending into said bolster opening, andmeans for compensating for wear between said bolster and said sideframe, said means being confined vertically by Walls of said opening andengaging transversely and longitudinally extending surfaces on said sideframe and bolster and being held in position thereby, said means andsaid longitudinally extending surfaces of the side frame extending intooverlapping relation to an end of the bolster.

' JAMES A. SHAFER.

